INTRODUCTION
The statistics of failures of structures such as road, buildings, dam and bridges throughout the nation has
increased geometrically. The need for pre-foundation studies has therefore become very imperative so as to
prevent loss of valuable lives and properties that always accompany such failure. Foundation study usually
provides subsurface information that normally assists civil engineers in the design of foundation of civil
engineering structures.
Geophysical methods such as the Electrical Resistivity (ER), Seismic Refraction, Electromagnetic (EM),
Magnetic and Ground Penetrating Radar are used singly or in combinations for engineering site
investigation. The applications of such geophysical investigation were determination of depth to bedrock,
structural mapping and evaluation of subsoil competence.
The management of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, recently allocated a site for a proposed
lecture room complex for the School of Earth and Mineral Sciences (SEMS). The site is located within a
basement complex area with variable overburden. The need to provide information in the subsurface
sequence and structure disposition necessary for foundation design necessitated an integrated geophysical
and geotechnical investigations of the site whose results are presented in this paper.
241
Four traverses were established across the study area (Fig. 2). Six (6) Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES)
stations were occupied along each of the traverses. A total of 24 sounding were carried out using the
Schlumberger configuration. The electrode spacing (AB/2) was varied from 1-65 m. The co-ordinate of
each of the sounding stations in Universal Traversal Mercaton (UTM) co-ordinate was recorded with the
aid of the GARMIN 12 channel personnel navigation geographic position system (GPS) unit.
The apparent resistivity values were plotted against electrode spacing (AB/2) on a bi-logarithmic graph
sheet to generate depth sounding curves. The field curves were then inspected visually for identification of
the curve type. Partial curve matching was carried out on the field curves. The interpretation results (layer
resistivity and thicknesses) were fed into computer for 1-D computer assisted interpretation involving
Resist version 1.0 software (Varder Velper, 1988). The final interpreted results were used for the
preparation of geoelectric sections, histograms and maps.
Five disturbed soil samples were collected at different locations at a depth not exceeding 1m within the site
as shown in Figure 2. These samples were preserved in polythene bags and transported to the laboratory.
The natural moisture content of the samples collected from the field was determined in the laboratory
within a period of 24 hours after collection. This was followed by air drying of the samples by spreading
them out on trays in a fairly warm room for four days. Large soil particles (clods) in the samples were
broken with a wooden mallet. Care was taken not to crush the individual particles. Methods of testing soils
for engineering parameters were conducted in accordance with B.S. 1377 for all the soil samples collected.
The tests include natural moisture content, grain size analysis, liquid limit, plastic limit, linear shrinkage,
and compaction test.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Geophysical Results
Five curve types were identified within the study area. These include A, H, QH, HA and KH type with the
H as the predominant curve type (Fig. 3). The typical curve types are as shown in Figures 4. Table 1 gives
the summary of the VES interpretation. The number of layers varies between three layers and four layers.
Geoelectric Parameters
The VES interpretation results were used to prepare 2-D geoelectric sections displayed in Figure 5. The
geoelectric sections delineate maximum of four geoelectric/geologic subsurface layers comprising the top
soil, weathered layer, partly weathered/fractured basement and fresh bedrock. The top soil is composed of
sandy clay/clayey sand/laterite with resistivity values varying from 172-698 m and thickness of between
0.6-4.1 m. The weathered layer ranges in composition from clay and sandy clay with resistivity values that
vary between 42 and 230 m.
242
243
CONCLUSIONS
The geophysical results revealed four geoelectric sequences within the study area which comprises of
topsoil, weathered layer, partly weathered /fracture basement and bedrock. The top soils are generally
thin (< 2 m) and majorly composed of sandy clay/ clayey sand/ laterites while the weathered layer is
composed of clay/sandy clay. The geoelectric sections show depth of rock head of between 2 and 21 m.
There is no evident of geological feature such as intensive fracture/fault within the bedrock which can
aid subsidence in the area. The geotechnical results show that the soils are generally of relatively low
natural moisture content. It has relatively low clay content as revealed by the percentage passing
0.075mm which are generally less or equal 35%. This was corroborate by the sandy nature of the Topsoil
as revealed by the geophysical results. Since the Plastic Index of the soils within the area are less than
20%, the soil can be adjudged to be low to medium plasticity, hence, the soils are expected to exhibit low
to medium swelling potential. The linear shrinkage of the soils are greater than 8%, indicating active and
expensive nature of the soil.
The deduction from the above is that, the topsoil Formation may be rated as relatively good as a
foundation material. The foundation of the proposed civil structure can be hosted by this formation. The
uneven nature of this layer has to be considered in the design of the foundation.
REFERENCES
AASHO (1962): Road Test Report 5 (Pavement Research), Highway Research Board, Special Report
6IE Washington D.C.
Adeleke, B. O. and Goh Cheng Leong, (1978): Certificate Physical and Human Geography, West African
Ed. Oxford University Press, Nigeria, Ibadan.
Brink, A. B. A., Parridge, J. C. and Williams, A. A. B (1992): Soil Survey for Engineering, Claredon,
|Oxford.
Federal Ministry of Works and Housing (1972): Highway Manual Part 1 Road Design, Federal Ministry of
Works and Housing, Lagos.
244
Jegede, G. (2000): Effect of soil properties on pavement failure along the F209 highway at Ado-Ekiti,
Southwestern Nigeria. Journal of Construction and Building Materials, vol. 14, pp. 311-315,
Kareem, 1997: Geological Map of Federal University of Technology, Akure: Unpublished M.Tech. Thesis,
Dept. of Applied Geology, Federal University of Tech., Akure. 109pp
Rahaman, M.A., (1989): Review of the basement geology of southwestern Nigeria. In: Kogbe, C.A., (ed)
Geology of Nigeria, Rock View (Nig.) Limited, Jos, Nigeria, pp. 39-56.
VES
1 (m)
2 (m)
3 (m)
4 (m)
h 1 (m)
h 2 (m)
H3 (m)
Curve
type
361.9
97.3
3786.6
0.7
2.8
381.8
49.6
181.5
34.1
1.5
1.9
228.3
65.7
1.4
5.3
444.7
440.3
37.2
1.0
202.4
64
1.9
4.4
340
170
3200
0.9
258.9
697.7
86.1
1.2
277.3
71.8
4.8
10
297.3
62.6
843.6
1.4
4.1
11
776.4
305.3
856.2
0.4
13.6
12
230.8
444.9
1151.5
1.4
13.2
13
170.2
1145.8
1745.3
1.9
3.9
14
319.4
229.7
1830.6
0.8
8.8
15
229
96.8
877.8
6.7
16
306.1
58.4
2.9
4.9
17
192.1
95.4
3.0
3.3
18
200.2
82
285.8
0.6
1.1
19
201.6
90.6
671.1
1.3
2.4
20
146
217.2
0.3
17.6
1500
3232.6
3630.9
245
2.8
6.8
QH
KH
HA
18.8
9.6
HA
21
253.8
336.7
41.7
22
185.4
88.6
23
30.9
1967.1
81.7
24
222.8
170.5
3675.3
Sample
No.
1
2
3
4
5
Natural
Moisture
Content
(%)
7.81
10.77
9.56
11.62
15.90
8708.1
3584
0.7
3.8
2.5
18.3
0.4
0.3
11.5
7.5
KH
H
2.6
KH
H
MDD
Kg/m3
OMC
(%)
1553
1868
1608
1770
1860
22.95
14.00
20.00
15.29
15.00
5 07' E
7 19' N
5 09'oE
7 19' N
LEGEND
Porphyritic Granite
Biotite Granite
Charnockitic rock
Quartzite bands
Gneiss Migmatite
Stream
Geological Boundary
Study Area
7o 17'oN
5 07' E
250m
7 17' N
5 09' E
o
246
Fig. 2: Data Acquisition Map of the Study Area Showing the Vertical Electrical Sounding Stations and the
Geotechnical Sampling Points
16
Frequency (Unit)
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
H
QH
KH
Curve Type
247
HA
248
(a)
S
VES 4
VES 9
VES 16
VES 21
254
V
Depth (m)
306
277
72
337
58
42
10
LEGEND
20m
Topsoil
Laterite
Weathered Layer
Bedrock
249
10m
228
66
V
V
(b)
VES 14
VES 13
Depth (m)
10
VES 15
VES 17
VES 16
VES 18
200
172
319
229
306
192
82
1146
230
97
58
95
286
1831
878
1745
3631
20m
LEGEND
Topsoil
Weathered Layer
Partly Weathered/
Fractured Basement
10m
Bedrock
(c)
VES 8
SE VES 6
Depth (m)
698
VES 15
259
259
229
202
64
86
97
1500
878
VES 23
31 NW
82
3584
10
20m
LEGEND
Topsoil
Weathered Layer
Bedrock
10m
Fig. 5: Geoelectric Section along (a) S-N, (b) W-E and SE-NW Direction.
807150
2000ohm-m
1900ohm-m
1800ohm-m
1700ohm-m
1600ohm-m
1500ohm-m
1400ohm-m
1300ohm-m
1200ohm-m
1100ohm-m
1000ohm-m
900ohm-m
800ohm-m
700ohm-m
600ohm-m
500ohm-m
400ohm-m
300ohm-m
200ohm-m
100ohm-m
807140
807130
807120
807110
807100
807090
807080
0m
20m
735870 735880 735890 735900 735910 735920 735930 735940 735950 735960 735970
VES Station
300
250
807150
2.9m
2.7m
807140
2.5m
2.3m
807130
2.1m
1.9m
807120
1.7m
1.5m
807110
1.3m
1.1m
807100
0.9m
0.7m
807090
0.5m
0.3m
807080
735870 735880 735890 735900 735910 735920 735930 735940 735950 735960 735970
VES Station
1.4
16
14
Frequency (Unit)
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0-200
200-400
400-600
600-800
800-1000
251
12
Frequency (Unit)
10
8
6
4
2
0
0-1.0
1.0-2.0
2.0-3.0
3.0-4.0
807150
21.0m
20.0m
19.0m
807140
18.0m
17.0m
16.0m
807130
15.0m
14.0m
13.0m
807120
12.0m
11.0m
10.0m
807110
9.0m
8.0m
7.0m
807100
6.0m
5.0m
4.0m
807090
3.0m
2.0m
1.0m
807080
735870 735880 735890 735900 735910 735920 735930 735940 735950 735960 735970
VES Station
5.0
252
14
Resistivity (ohm-m)
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0-5.0
5.0-10.0
10.0-15.0
15.0-20.0
Thickness (m)
Fig. 10: Histogram of the Overburden Thickness
253
Percentage Passing(%)
70
60
50
40
0.002
0.006
0.02
0.06
0.2
0.6
20
60
CLAY
Fine
Medium Coarse
SILT
Fine
Medium Coarse
SAND
Fine
Medium Coarse
GRAVEL
254
COBBLES
200